ABSTRACT:Autonomous learning via the Internet has now developed into a major trend in college English teaching in China. Through a questionnaire-based survey of 120 English majors in Honghe University supplemented by an interview with 10 students, the present study examined the status of English major in extracurricular autonomous learning via the Internet and try to present a clear picture of their autonomous learning situation, particularly students’ perceptions, attitude, learning methods, learning efficiency and problems they encounter in extracurricular AEL via the Internet. The result of the investigation shows that the level of AEL via the Internet of English majors is still low, most of the samples have a clear cognition and held positive attitude toward AEL via the Internet, but they have not master enough learning methods, they encountered a lot of problems and their learning efficiency is not so good. Suggestions on enhancing students’ autonomous English learning via the Internet were subsequently discussed.

Keywords: Extracurricular autonomous English learning (AEL); internet; English major

TABLE OF CONTENTS

摘 要

ABSTRACT

1 INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Purpose of the Study-2

1.3 Research Questions-3

1.4 The Organization of the Thesis-3

2 LITERATURE REVIEW-5

2.1 Studies of Learner Autonomy-5

2.2 Overseas Researches of Autonomous English Learning via the Internet-6

2.3 Domestic Researches of Autonomous English Learning via the Internet-7

2.4 Summary-8

3 METHODOLOGY-9

3.1 Introduction-9

3.2 Research Subjects-9

3.3 Instruments-9

3.3.1 Questionnaires-9

3.3.2 Interviews-10

3.4 Data Collection and Analysis-11

4 DISCUSSIONS AND RESULTS-12

4.1 Results of the Questionnaires-12

4.1.1 Students’ perceptions about autonomous English learning via the Internet-12

4.1.2 Students’ attitudes toward autonomous English learning via the Internet-15

4.1.3 Students’ learning methods in their AEL via the Internet-16

4.1.4 Students’ learning efficiency in their AEL via the Internet-19

4.1.5 Obstacles in the autonomous learning via the Internet-20

4.1.6 Students’ expectations on teachers-21

4.2 Results of Interviews-23

4.2.1 Students’ attitudes towards AEL via the Internet-23

4.2.2 Students’ learning methods in their AEL via the Internet-23

4.2.3 Students’ learning efficiency in their AEL via the Internet-23

4.2.4 Obstacles in the AEL via the Internet-23

4.3 Suggestions-24

4.3.1 Students should make a clear AEL objective-24

4.3.2 Teachers should provide some help to the students in their extracurricular AEL via the Internet-24

4.3.3 The school should provide a good atmosphere for the students-25

5 CONCLUSION-26

5.1 Findings-26

5.2 Limitations-27

REFERENCES-28

APPENDIX A-29

APPENDIX B-31

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-32